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Ballot Marking Devices (BMD)
A Ballot Marking
Device (BMD) based system is typically an accessible
computer-based voting system that produces a marked ballot (usually
paper) that is the result of voter interaction with visual or audio
prompts. The result is a voter-verified ballot that may or may not be
accessibly verified. Some BMDs count votes internally (as do DRE
systems) and may save voter selection information. For any BMD that
does count, save or use cryptography or other techniques to make it
difficult to insert, before, during or after actual polling,
fraudulent ballots prepared on other devices, any discrepancy between
records stored within a BMD and physical ballots produced would
provide clear evidence of malfunction or fraud and initiate an
investigation to determine the source of the discrepancy and the
invalid ballots, whether electronic or physical.
Scenario assumptions for BMD systems:
1. Purchase and
handling of Ballots before Election Day
Paper ballot is human-readable and machine-readable.
Voters are provided with sample ballots in advance where layout of
the ballot is identical to one they will be voting on.
2. Set-up for Election Day
Fresh cartridge put in machine
Document recording cartridge and machine pairings and total number
of recording cartridges.
Range of ballot serial numbers from sealed box(es) is recorded.
Number of boxes (i.e. total number of blank ballot papers) is
recorded.
Paper/material of ballots is validated (paper quality, inks, etc.)
Ensure no one at polling station can read ballot identifiers.
3. Operation during Election Day
Each voter receives a voting authority to submit one paper ballot
marked electronically via BMD on tamper evident paper.
Each voter is briefly instructed on operation of machines and what
the paper ballot means.
Record stored in ballot-marking device (BMD) and retained as paper
ballots. Paper ballots then scanned into machines at the polling
place. Paper ballot is the official legal record.
Each voter is encouraged to verify the paper ballot.
Each voter is encouraged to verify validity of ballot material
(paper quality, inks, etc.)
Voter watches his/her own ballot being scanned into machine.
Spoiled paper ballots are voided by poll workers and saved in
separate container.
4. Close of Election Day
Two final tapes from each machine printed, total votes tallied at
polling station.
One set of additional tapes for each poll worker printed.
Cartridges with ballot images from each machine are collected.
Cartridge/machine pairings and total number of cartridges are
verified.
Voter entries and exits in the poll book(s) are counted. Number of
voters recorded reconciled with total of votes on all machine tallies.
Ballot box is opened and the number of paper counted. Total number
of paper ballots reconciled with tally from paper tapes and poll
books.
All blank and spoiled ballots accounted for.
Poll workers sign all but one set of paper tallies.
.
Having made reports, seal records from polling station in envelope
signed by all poll workers. Records include machine cartridges,
unsigned machine tapes (zero and final), poll books, hand-written
forms containing reconciliations, provisional ballots sealed in a
separate envelope and counted separately
Blank ballots are sealed back in boxes.
Signed and sealed packages are hand-delivered by some group of
election workers. Ideally the group should contain members from each
contesting party. In any case, the group must contain at least two
workers from distinct parties. Delivering and receiving election
officials log receipt of package at headquarters.
5. Post Election Day Audit
Statistical sampling as part of an Automatic Routine Audit (ARA).
Automatic audit consists of randomly selecting both ballot-marking and
scanning machines.
View a document describing scenario
assumptions for other voting device types.
View an all-in-one document describing the four primary voting device types.
Other voting device types:
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